Lela Helm

Lela Isabelle (Witt) Helm of Lebanon, Ohio passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 13, 2019, a month before her 95^th birthday. She was born in Liberty, Casey County, Kentucky on February 16, 1924 to the late Claude and Edna (Norman) Witt. Lela was also preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Artis Helm, her sister, Lola, her brothers, Maliki, Eugene, and Charles, and her granddaughter, Holly. She is survived by her two children, Linda (Thomas McChain) Helm and David (Elizabeth Cobb) Helm, her four grandchildren, Heather (Mickey) Goldberg, James David Helm, Isabelle Helm, and Jillian Helm, and her two great granddaughters, Flora and Delilah Goldberg. She is survived by her sisters, Lucille Alloway, Maxine Witt, and Wanda Pilkins as well as her sister in laws Golden Witt and Barbra Bounds and several nieces, nephews and cousins. After graduation from Casey County (Kentucky) High School at age 16, Lela entered college. She earned an Associate Degree in Education from Lindsay-Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky, a Bachelors in Education from Kentucky Wesleyan College in Winchester, Kentucky, and a Masters in Education from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Lela’s first teaching job was as a 1st grade teacher in the two room Rheber School house (Kentucky) for four years from 1942-1946. Besides teaching Lela was responsible for keeping the school heated with firewood and gathering fresh water from the well. She then taught for five years in Milan Indiana, one year in Dillsboro, Indiana, and for 25 years at C. F. Holliday Elementary School in West Carrollton, Ohio. She was a lifetime member of the Ohio Education Association and the National Education Association. She was a charter member for 50 years in the Beta Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gama.  She was an active member for over 60 years with St. James United Methodist Church in Miamisburg, Ohio. Lela and Art enjoyed spending time with family and friends and traveling. Lela will be laid to rest at Salem Cemetery in Rheber, Casey County, Kentucky. Visitation will be held at Otterbein Chapel, 585 OH-741, Lebanon, OH 45036 on Saturday, January 19 from 2 p.m. until time of service at 4 p.m. Visitation will also take place at McKinney Brown Funeral Home, 752 Campbellsville St., Liberty, Kentucky 42539 on Monday, January 21 from 11 a.m. until time of service at 12 noon. Burial will follow. Donations may be made to: Hospice of Butler and Warren Counties, 5940 Long Meadow Dr, Middletown, OH 45005 or to Salem Cemetery c/o Judy Allen, 60 Myrtle Dr., Dunnville, KY 42528.